Multibarrel gun



Patented Apr. 28, 1925 NICOLAS EMILIEN METHLIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR-TO SCHNEIDER & CIR,

01? PAR-IS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

MULTIBARREL GUN.

Application filed July 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIooLAs EMILIEN METHLIN, a resident-[of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Multibarrel Guns, which are fully set forth barrels in such a manner that a part of the energy of the recoilo'f one of the two conjugated barrels or of one of the conjugated groups of barrels is utilized wholly or partially in a suitable recuperator for runningout the other conjugated barrel or conjugated groups of barrels, and vice versa, the conjugation being such as to allow of maintaining an approximately constant position of the centre of gravity of the whole of the movable parts of the gun during firing. In one constructional form described in said patent, each of the recoil brakes of one of the gun barrels or of one group of gun barrels is in constant communication through an orifice 0r duct with the brake of the conjugated gun barrel or conjugated group of gun barrels. In other words the liquid that is forced into the brake cylinder, t or is forced by the latter, during the recoil, in the brake of one of the barrels or group of barrels, instead of circulating in a closed circuit in this brake, is forced into the brake of the conjugated gun barrel or conjugated group of gun barrels; this said brake then acting as a recuperator for returning the conjugated gun barrel or group of conjugated gun barrels into battery position. In that constructional form described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of said patent, the flow of the liquid from one of the brakes into the conjugated brake, in passing abruptly through the connecting duct between the two brakes, is liable to produce shocks detrimental to the stability and strength of the un. b That drawback is obviated according to the present invention by arranging as a branch from the connecting duct between the two recuperator brakes, a hydraulic,

1924. Serial No. 724,871.

hydro-pneumatic or other shock-absorber,

which is also capable of assuring at all times a plenum .of'liquidin the two conjugated recuperator brakes'and in their connecting duct, so as to maintain constant conditions of the recoil and returning into battery posi tion of the conjugated barrels. 1

Two constructional forms of this improvement are illustrated by way of example in Figs. 1 and 2 of. the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of one form which the invention may assume and Fig. 2is a like section of a modified forin of the invention.

The cylinders F and G are the cylinders formed in the common cradle. Each gun barrel is secured to a tubular piston rod D (E) respectively. Each rod D- terminates in a head 1) (E which is adapted to move liquid-tight in its respective cylinder and forms a diaphragm d (6 around a counter-rod f (g) engaged in the said tubular rod and carried by the end of the cylinder.

The tubular rod D is attached at its outer end 03 to one of the gun barrels or group of gun barrels, whereas the tubular rod E is attached at its outer end 6 to the conjugated gun barrel or conjugated group of gun barrels. The two cylinders F and G communicate with each other at their rear ends through a duct H. j

According tothepresent invention any shock that might be produced by the abrupt forcing back of the liquid through the duct H is absorbed as a result of the connection of the said duct to a shock-absorber.

In the illustrated example this shock-absorber is constituted by a cylindrical or otherwise shaped reservoir I which may have common walls with the cylinders F and G, and in which there moves a plunger J whose outer head is subject to the action of a spring K, the initial stressing of which can be adjusted by means of a screwplug L.

Normally the plunger J has the position shown in the drawing, Figure 1. In the case of a too abrupt forcing back of the liquid through the duct H, the pressure which is transmitted through an orifice i into the reservoir I, acts upon the, plunger J which, being forced outwards, compresses the spring K.

The plunger J is, of course,returned into its normal position by theexpansion of the spring- K WhichWas-compressedtby the alt rupt forcing out of the said plunger.

Should any loss of liquid occur, the expansion ofthespring K, causes a .greaterl.inT

Ward penetration of the plunger J? into-the reservoir 1, this mcreased penetration-assuring a plenuniof liquid throughoutthe inter-communicating chambers F, I, G and the orifices i and the connecting duct HY Fig, 2 illustrates av modification, which differs ,t'rom the constructional -form of Fig, 1,.only in respect of, the. brake, apparatus. Iii-Fig, 2 th'e constriction of. the flow of the liquid for braking purposes, insteadl offbeing produced. in the known mannen meanso'fa tubular piston and counter-rod, 1s here produced in, a likewise knowniman ner by meansofjapi'ston D (E?) havinga slot D (E mats/periphery adaptedfto the combination of a p lurality'of brake cyl- 1i1'dens,.a COIICltllt connecting the rear ends of'said'cyli'nders, a reservoir in open communication With said conduit, and a shockahsorbing plunger: in: said it reservoir.

2: In .v a;-. device I 0ft the chamctelz described, the combination of a plurality of connected'brakecylinders With a. shock-absorber in operative relation With both cylinders.

In a device of" the character described, the combination of a plurality of brake cylinders, a conduit connectingth'e rear ends of'said. oylinders,.a reservoir in open communication with said conduit, a plunger projecting, into said reservoir, and yielding me ans pressing said plunger inward.

4. In a device ofthe. character described, thecombination of a plurality ofhydraulic brakev cylinders,, aconduit connecting the same, a hydraulic reservoirin open communication With said conduit, vand'a shockealisorbing pliinger in said'reservoir..

In, testimony whereofI have signedtliis specification,

NICODAS EMIIJIEN METHIJIN. 

